Today the author talks about the severe labor shortage in the Virginia colony and the colonial leaders desperate attempt to address it.
From the Book:
Colonial American History Stories – 1215 – 1664
Transcript:
January 31, 1620 – Virginia Colony Leaders Request More Orphans for Workers
Greetings, today I will talk about the severe labor shortage in the Virginia colony and the colonial leaders desperate attempt to address it.
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The new world colonies struggled for workers. Orphans in England often found themselves shipped to the new colonies as indentured servants. Many of these children protested and were unwilling to go. Thus, the leaders of the Virginia Company sent a letter to the King, requesting help in gathering more orphans.
The Virginia Company
To colonize the new lands across the ocean, James I, King of England, chartered the Virginia Company to settle these lands. The Virginia Company was a joint stock company, composed of two separate entities. These were the London Company and the “Virginia Company of Plymouth.” He chartered these companies, giving them authority to two separate areas of the eastern coast of the New World. Some of their territory overlapped. The charter conferred by the Crown enabled them to govern themselves. These companies extended this right to the colonies they governed. When the Virginia Company failed in 1624, the King did not revoke the self-governing right to the colonists. This established the concept of “self rule” in the colonies.
Unwillingness to Come
The Crown gave permission to the Virginia Company to send the orphans to the New World to serve as indentured servants. These children protested and many refused to go to a hard life of servitude in a raw, unforgiving land. Thus, the leaders of the Virginia Colony sent the following letter to Sir Robert Naunton. Sir Naunton was the principal secretary of the king. The letter, dated January 31, 1620 reads as follows:
“The City of London have by act of their Common Council, appointed or hundred children out of their superfluous multitude to be transported to Virginia: there to be bound apprentices for certain years, and afterward with very beneficial conditions for the children. . . . Now it falleth out that among those children, sundry being ill disposed, and fitter for any remote place than for the city, declare their unwillingness to go to Virginia, of whom the City is especially desirous to be disburdened, and in Virginia under severe masters the may be brought to goodness.”
Reply
The Privy Council gave the company official permission to do whatever they needed to do to force these children on the ships. Their letter of reply:
“And if any of them shall be found obstinate to resist or otherwise to disobey such directions as shall be given in this behalf, we do likewise hereby authorize such as shall have the charge of this service to imprison, punish, and dispose any of those children . . . and so to ship them out for Virginia with as much expedition as may stand with conveniency.”
Important Source of Labor
During this period, indentured servants formed an important part of the new colonist’s population. More than half of the immigrants came as indentured servants, and most were less than nineteen years old. The average age of these children was between fourteen and sixteen, but children as young as six served also. Most children that came to the colonies did come as part of a family, but many of these lost one or both parents through death. Some parents also abandoned their children. The governing authority could then apprentice these children out as indentured servants.
Indentured Servants
It was easy for new arrivals to the colonies to buy land and set themselves up as farmers. Because of this, merchants and plantation owners had a hard time hiring cheap labor to work for them. The indentured servant system developed to satisfy this need. The cost of trans-Atlantic travel was expensive, as much as half a years wage. Many prospective settlers sold themselves to sea captains, using a contract of indenture. This contract usually lasted a set term of years, normally from three to seven years. Five years was the most common. After arrival, the captain would advertise the indentures he had available. Shop owners or plantation owners would respond to the ad. They would inspect their prospective servant and purchase the indenture contract. During the time of the contract, the servant would receive no wages or other compensation. They could not marry. Physical punishment was part of their terms and the courts enforced the contract. At the end of the term, their master had to set them free. They would normally receive a payment, or “freedom dues.” If they ran away, the sheriffs could hunt them down and return them. As punishment, they could receive extra years of service or, more common, a public whipping.
Kidnapping Orphans and Others
Many captains kidnapped orphaned children and other unfortunates. They would then sell them into servitude when they arrived in the new world. Other servants entered the contract under terms of deceit. As there was little oversight, the opportunity for abuse was possible. Many historians feel that the numbers of involuntary indentured servants was low. The practice did exist, however.
The episode is based upon my book, Colonial American History Stories – 1215 – 1664, available on the web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The book is the first book in the 6 volume Timeline of United States History Series . Discover some of the famous and almost forgotten historic stories of America. The story begins with the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 and the beginnings of the concept of limited government and ends, for now, with the beginning of the American Revolution in 1775. The articles in the book have much more detail as well as articles not included in this podcast series.
You can find my books locally at the Walnut Street Variety Shop in Batesville, Indiana.
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Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 